At least five killed and 119 wounded: Russia launched massive air attack on Ukraine

On the morning of January 2, Russia attacked critical infrastructure and industrial, civilian, and military facilities in Ukraine with 99 missiles of various types and 35 drones. The massive attack caused destruction and casualties: at least 5 people were killed and 119 more were injured, according to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed at least 72 missiles, almost 60 of them were shot in Kyiv and the Kyiv region. Also, Kharkiv was hit. Debris fell in nearly all districts of the capital. Residential high-rise buildings were damaged, and fires occurred. 

Update from January 8: Two people wounded in the Russian missile attack on Kyiv and Kharkiv on January 2 died in hospital. The total number of deaths due to the Russian attack has risen to 7.

Information as of January 2, 14.00 Kyiv time:

On the morning of January 2, a series of explosions occurred in Kyiv during an air raid alert. In several districts of the capital, residential and non-residential buildings caught fire as a result of the missile attack and fallen debris. In particular, as a result of a fire in a high-rise building in the Solomyanskiy district, 49 people were wounded and two died.

A Russian missile attack damaged the power grids in Kyiv and the Kyiv region region, leaving more than 250,000 consumers without electricity. Electricians managed to restore the power supply to residents in a few hours.

In the Kyiv region, Boryspil, Bucha, and Fastiv districts were affected. Two people were killed. In Vyshneve, 5 apartment buildings and more than 40 cars were damaged. 7 people were injured.

Russian forces also launched missile strikes on Kharkiv. In total, 53 people were injured in the attack, and a 91-year-old woman was killed. 17 injured people were hospitalized.

“As of now, we know about 53 wounded. Among them are five children: three boys aged 9 and girls aged 6 and 13. The injured children suffered from explosive injuries, bruises, and acute stress reactions,” said Oleh Syniehubov.

Update: The death toll in Kharkiv due to Russia’s missile attack on January 2, 2024, has risen to two, with one more person dying in hospital. Another 61 people were injured, reported the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during the massive air attack on January 2, Russian forces used 35 Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 drones, 70 cruise missiles Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55, 12 ballistic missiles S-300/S-400/Iskander-M, 10 aeroballistic missiles X-47M2 “Kyndzhal”, 4 anti-radar missiles X-31P. As a result of the air combat, Ukrainian forces successfully destroyed 72 cruise missiles and 35 drones.

“I thank the employees of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, police officers, doctors – everyone who helps people. Our Air Force, anti-aircraft gunners, mobile firing groups – thank you, guys. And I thank everyone in the world who helps us. Patriot, IRIS-T, NASAMS – each of these systems has already saved at the very least hundreds of lives. And for every life taken, Russia will be held accountable,” stated President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.